Locals blame Government's apathy for spread of Maoist influence in Orissa

Raigarh (Orissa), Oct 4(ANI): Locals in Orissa's Raigarh district claim that the Government is to blame for the youngsters in the area turning to Maoism.

They allege that the Government's apathy to the condition of the people, forces them to take to Maoism, as they are devoid of basic facilities, which leaves them with no other option.

"The school building behind me has never been opened. It is always locked and there is no teacher. We have never seen the teacher. As the Government facilities are not reaching us, people are lured towards Naxalism," said Ghai Handaraka, a local.

They also claim that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram have called the Maoists the greatest threat to the country, but the significant fact is that they have failed to not eliminate the threat.

However, the Revenue Minister of Raigarh, S. N Patro, denies the claim made by locals and said that young people from the district joined the Maoist.

"Nobody from this area has joined Naxalites. It is only in Andhra Pradesh's neighbouring Vijaynagar district that there was rampant Naxalite activities for the 30-40 years," Patro said. (ANI)